Norwalk Police officer awarded for thwarting suicide

Published 7:00 pm, Sunday, December 14, 2008

NORWALK

By STEVE KOBAK

Hour Staff Writer

Officer Garrett Kruger was given the November Officer of the Month award at the Police Commission meeting Monday for neutralizing a suicidal, knife-wielding 49-year-old man when the man was about to impale himself, according to police.

Kruger Tased the suicidal man when the man made a stabbing motion in his abdominal area, police said. Chief Harry Rilling said Kruger's quick actions saved the man's life.

"He's done a very remarkable job," said Rilling. "He's a very professional individual."

Mayor Richard Moccia noted that the suicidal man had to be restrained and sedated at Norwalk Hospital, making Kruger's accomplishment even more harrowing.

"He did the right thing at the right time with a very disturbed person that even the hospital had to restrain," he said.

Kruger said he is grateful that Norwalk officers are given the training required to deal with such instances.

"I'm happy that the chief and police commission allowed us to carry the tools needed to complete a call like this," Kruger said.

Kruger won his first officer of the month honor in May for his calm response during the incident in which Thomas Finneran, 52, of 10 Old Lantern Place, tried to provoke police into killing him by charging at a group of officers and throwing a machete.